The sustainability executive: Profile and progress

October 2012

At a glance

The role of the Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO) is evolving based on input from CSOs in 25 leading sustainability companies. The research identifies trends on how companies organize sustainability, the work agenda, key success factors, and the challenges ahead.

The responsibilities for sustainability executives are broadening, from strategy development to a range of execution challenges as companies look to achieve more powerful results on a larger scale, according to research conducted on behalf of members of the Sustainability Innovators Working Group, a group of executives representing companies recognized as leaders in sustainability, convened by PwC.

This summary draws a portrait of the sustainability executive, provides leadership insights, and a look at the road ahead.